RANKINGS
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I COMMITTED
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ABOUT
With a 709-195-5 record in 26 seasons of coaching at Waggener and Ballard high schools, Alan Jones already was the winningest softball head coach in Kentucky state history before the 2022 season at Ballard got started.
So after the Bruins went 39-0, won their first state title and finished No. 6 in the Extra Inning Elite 80 national rankings, it should be obvious why Jones emerged as the leading contender to be the 2022 National Coach of the Year.
That honor is now official.
“Thank you for the great honor,” Jones said in an email sent on Monday. “The players were amazing this year. They always came in ready to get the job done in practices and games. They never complained, just worked extremely hard. This team was very close and no one ever was selfish. Whatever it took to win, they supported it and each other.”
It wasn’t easy for Jones and his girls in their final game against Lexington Catholic. They faced highly-regarded freshman pitcher Abby Hammond, who held their usually potent offense to just three runs.
In the sixth inning, LexCath also got its first two runners on base, trailing 3-1. Instead of a season-spoiling rally, however, it was more of a season-saving triple play. A line drive was caught by Imari Golden, who threw out one runner off base for the second out. Macy McCoy then made a throw to second base that was in time to catch the other runner off base that completed the triple play.
Here’s a video clip of that huge play:
Pitcher Brooke Gray, who finished 31-0 for the season, then completed the seventh to get the 3-2 win. Ballard had won its first state title after falling short as state runner-up in 2005 and 2011.
It was only the third time in Kentucky state history that a team has ended with an unbeaten record (the others were Greenwood in 2013 and Male of Louisville in 2019). But Jones said that completing such a task was never mentioned in any team meeting.
“Not once did we bring it up,” Jones said. “The best memories for me will be watching the smiles on their faces after they won the championship after all their hard work they put into the season to get it done. The triple play I will never forget. Once that was over, I knew we had it.”
Check out this great game recap done by WHAS11 (ABC) which covers Kentucky and Southern Indiana:
Entering the Kentucky playoffs, which are unique in the country since there are no divisions, there were other teams from the state in the Extra Innings Elite 80. In the semifinals, for example, Ballard rolled over a South Warren of Bowling Green squad (11-0) that was 38-2 and was No. 36. A team that Lexington Catholic beat in the other semifinal, McCracken County of Paducah, was 34-2.
Gray, a junior, had 350 strikeouts through 165 ⅓ innings and had a 0.85 ERA. She will be back next season along with every other starter other than graduating senior catcher Alyssa Simmons. Junior Emory Donaldson, a University of Kentucky commit, will be the team’s hitter to watch. She had a .522 average with 15 homers, 10 triples and 45 RBI.
“So many of the players played a big part of our success,” Jones said. “Brooke Gray was awesome as our pitcher. She is one of the best pitchers in the country. Emory Donaldson, Macy McCoy, Mikayla Milby, Imari Golden, Sydney Blair and Alyssa Simmons, our only senior who did a great job as our catcher also had a great year along with Lillian Koch and Eden Jesse. Each of these won a game or two for us with their bats and their defense.”
It also helped to have an effective head coach with such a young team and Alan Jones fit the bill in that regard perfectly.
— Mark Tennis, for Extra Inning Softball